Circuit control device for



Nov. 14, 1933. w. J. WILLIAMS CIRCUIT CONTROL DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Sept. 2, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 14, 1933. w. J. WILLIAMS 1,935,159

CIRCUIT CONTROL DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES Filed Sept. 2, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Nov. 14, 1933 l i CIRCUIT CONTROL DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES William J. Williams, Chicago, 111;, assignor to Motor Devices, Inc., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application September 2, 1930. Serial No. 479,412

8 Claims. (01. 175-357) This invention relates to improvements in cir- Spaced a suitable distance inwardly from the cuit control devices for automobiles and it conhead 15 of the coil is a transverse wall 20 of insists of the matters hereinafter described and sulation that divides the casing into a coil chammore particularly pointed out in the appended ber 21 and a switch and circuit breaker chamber claims. 22. Associated with the wall 20 is a boss 23 dis- 60 The primary object of the invention is to proposed in the coil chamber and supported in said vide a simple and eilicient device for automotive boss and the terminal head 8 respectively, axvehicles for controlling the on and oil conially of the casing is the core 24 for the coil as a ditions of the circuits for the ignition system whole. In the chamber 21 between the boss 23 and the starting motor and correlated devices and head 8 and surrounding the major portion 65 of the vehicle of which the device forms a part. of the core are the primary and secondary wind- A further object of the invention is to provide ings 25 and 26 respectively of said coil. One end a device of this kind in the nature of an igniof'the primary winding is connected to the tertion coil in which is embodied an associated cirminal 11 and the corresponding end of the seccuit breaker of peculiar construction. ondary winding 26 is connected to the center ter- 70 These objects of the invention as well as others minal 9. g I together with the many advantages thereof, will The wall 2() and its boss 23 is made of amoulded more fully appear as I proceed with my specificainsulation and in said wall near its periphery, tion. are embedded a plurality of arcuately spaced In the drawings: fixed plugs 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32 and 33 respec- 75 Fig. 1 is a view partly in longitudinal section tively, the three later ones being connected toand partly in side elevation, of an ignition coil gether by a buss 34 as best shown in Fig. 4. The and contained switch and circuit breaker emplugs 27-28 and 3233 constitute fixed contacts bodying my invention. while the plugs 2930 and 31 constitute terminals Fig. 2 is a view in elevation of the key end for the convenient attachment of current conduc- 80 of the coil of Fig. 2. tors thereto. Each plug is in the form of a me- Fig. 3 is a view in elevation of the terminal tallie body formed at one end with a central reend of said coil. 7 cess 35 whereby an associated conductor may be Figs. l, 5 and 6 are transverse vertical secconnected thereto and formed at its other end tional views through the coil as taken on the with a concaved recess 36 for engagement by an 5 lines 4-4, 55, and 66 respectively of Fig. 1. associated movable contact as will later appear.

Fig. 7 is a view of the switch similar to that The lock cylinder 17 extends into the chamber shown in Fig. 5 with the parts in a changed 22 where it has secured thereto-a disc of insularelation. tion 37 forming the movable base of a switch with- Refe w in detail to that embodiment in said chamber 22. When the lock cylinder is 90 of the invention illus a d in the accompanyturned in one direction or the other by means of ing drawings and especially 9 i f the proper key (not shown) inserted from the 6 indicates as a Whole the lmproved 011mm outer end thereof, it is apparent that the switch control device in the nature of a high tension base will turn therewith. On that face of the ignition c011. base, adjacent the wall 20 is fixed a metallic plate Sald 6011 as bgst Show? p 1 includes 38 formed to provide a pair of oppositely disposed,

tubular metal s 7 wh-lch 1S qsed at 1 helical, spring contact fingers 39 and 40 respecend by a head 8 of insulation having a centel 1 formed to n a 6 Certain associate d terminal 9 and arcuately spaced terminals 10, We eacn e g ll, 12, 13 and 14 adapted for association with Q i 27-28 m respectlvely- Each 100 the battery, timer, generator, starting motor and finger 15 formed Wlth a cotwexed 9 to engage accessories respectively of the automobile in in the concaved recess of its associatedcontact which the device is embodied. The other end of befm'e mentwned and to further Insure p oper said casing is closed by a head 15 including a Contact a t, a h fi r s a d up y tubular extension 16 in which is disposed a key a Spring On 0 Side of the Wall the actuated lock cylinder 17. The extension is Circular P of the C9ntact befor? mentloned screw threaded and is adapted to project through andbeyond the a t 33 1s p vlded another a suitable support 18 such as the. instrument fixed contact 42 adapted in the movement of the board of the automobile and may be secured switch to be engaged by the extremity of the finger thereto by a nut 19 travelling on said extension. 40 when its convexed end is engaged in the recess 36 of the contact 33. This contact 42 is electrically connected to the terminal 30.

In the chamber 22 of the casing between the end wall 15 and switch base 37 is located a circuit breaker indicated as a whole as at 44. It comprises a bracket 45 fixed to said wall 15 and having a bent end 46 on which is mounted a contact 47. On the other end of said bracket is mounted an electro-magnet 48 the winding of which is connected by a suitable conductor with the terminal 29, the bracket itself being connected by a suitable conductor with the terminal 30. Associated with said bracket and pivoted on the wall 15 as at 51 is a bell crank shaped contact lever 52 having one arm 53 disposed to be attracted by the magnet 48 and a second arm 54 carrying a contact 55 to coact with the bracket contact 47. On the hub of said lever is a projection 56 and a spring 57 secured at one end to the wall 15 and bearing at its other end upon the arm 54 normally acts to hold the contacts 47-55 spaced apart. On the switch base 37 and facing toward thecircuit breaker as a whole are studs or pins '58-58'- and 59 respectively, arranged to so engage the 'arm 53 and extension 56 of said lever as to make and break engagement between the contact 4755. The lever 52 is connected by a suitable conductor with the terminal 31.

The contact 27 is connected to the terminal 10 by a suitable conductor, disposed within the chamber 21 of the casing so as to be enclosed thereby.

When the switch in the chamber 22 of the coil casing is in its of! position, the contact finger 39 is engaged with the contact 28 and the contact finger 40 is engaged with the contact 33 (which in turn is connected to the terminal 31 and contact 32 through the buss 34) and the extreme end of said finger 40 is engaged with the contact 42. When the contact fingers are in the position described, they'are thus releasably held because of the concave-convexed formation of the said fingers andcontacts as before described and the pin 58 will have so engaged the extension 56 of the circuit breaker lever 52 as to hold the contacts '47 -55 spaced apart and open.

When the key of the switch has been inserted into the cylinder 17 and a turn (of about 45) has been imparted thereto in one direction, this will move the contact fingers 39 and 40 into engagement with the contacts 27 and 32. When the device is embodied in an automotive vehicle, the contact 27 is connected to the associated battery by a suitable conductor not shown. As contact 32 is connected to contact 33 through the buss 34, current could pass into the primary and secondary windings 25 and 26 of the coil 6. A slight further turn of the key in the same direction but not so far as to cause the contact fingers to leave their respective contacts, will cause the pin 58 on the switch base 37 to engage the lever arm 53 of the circuit breaker and move it toward the electromagnet 48 and at the same time cause the contacts 47--55 to engage against the action of the spring 57.

Current would then pass through the fingers 39a and 40, through a suitable conductor not shown, to contacts 55-47, lever 53 conductor 50 to contact 30.

In this last mentioned movement of the switch, current could also pass through the bracket 45 of the circuit breaker 44 and energize the winding of the electro-magnet 48, and this will cause the same to hold the arm 53 of the circuit breaker against the action of the spring 57. So soon as turning pressure on the actuating key is released the pin 58 backs away from the lever arm 53 and the contact fingers slip back into full center engagement with the contacts 27 and 32; this being due to the concavoconvexed formation of said fingers and contacts as well as the natural spring action in said fingers. Thus the magnet 48 maintains engagement between the contacts 47-55 to hold closed an associated circuit such as the start ing motor circuit of the vehicle.

So soon as the engine runs under its own power it drives the usual generator and produces 2. current supply which passes to contact 29 and conductcr 49, to the winding of the electro-magnet 48 which acts to deenergize the same. When thus deenergized, said magnet loses its attractive effort or power on the arm 53 so that the spring 57 immediately acts to open or separate the con tacts 47-55.

Assume that after the engine has been started, the before mentioned generator fails in its function of curr nt generation. Under such a condition the circuit breaker would also fail to break the starting motor circuit. Thus a condition would arise wherein the engine is running and the starting motor is still operating, and such a condition is one to be avoided, because of the damage which naturally occurs. To circumvent such a condition, the key operated switch in the coil ca."- ing is turned but a slight distance in the other direction (but not so far as to cause the fingers 39 and 40 to leave the contacts 27--32) and this will cause the pin 59 to engage and pass the end of the lever arm 53 of the circuit breaker and thus swing said lever against the attraction of 110 the magnet 48 and produce a separation between the contacts 47--55.

Upon tin'ning said switch in the direction to on position, the pin 58 engages the projection 56 of the circuit breaker lever 52 so that said cir- 115 cuit breaker effectively held against tampering by unauthorized persons.

While in describing the invention, I have referred in detail to the form, arrangement and construction of the various parts as well as a spe 120 cific wiring lay-out, the same is to be considered merely as illustrative so that I do not wish to be limited thereto except as may be specifically set forth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:-

1. A circuit control device for automobiles comprising a casing, a partition dividing the same into a coil chamber and a switch chamber, a coil in said coil chamber, contacts fixed in said partition and certain ones of which are 13 operatively connected to said coil, a switch member in the switch chamber and movable from an off to an on position and vice versa and carrying contact fingers for ngagement with the fixed contacts in said partition, and a circuit breaker in one of said chambers and including a fixed contact and a movable contact which are held in a spaced apart relation by the switch member when in its off position and which last mentioned contacts automatically engage when said switch moves towards its on position.

2. A circuit control device for automobiles comprising a casing, a partition dividing the same into a coil chamber and a switch chamber, a coil in said coil chamber, contacts fixed in said partition, and certain ones of which are operatively connected to said coil, a switch member in the switch chamber and movable from an off to an on position and vice versa and carrying 150 contact fingers for engagement with the fixed contacts in said partition, and a circuit breaker in the switch chamber including a fixed contact and a movable contact which are held in spaced apart relation by the switch member when in its off position.

3. A circuit control device for automobilescomprising a casing, a partition dividing the same into a coil chamber and a switch chamber,

a coil in said coil chamber, contacts fixed in said partition and certain ones of which are operatively connected to the coil, a switch member in the switch chamber and movable from an fofi to an on position and vice versa and carrying contact fingers for engagement with the fixed contacts in said partition, and a circuit breaker in one of said chambers including a spring pressed arm and an electro-magnet each including cooperating contacts normally disposed in spaced relation, said arm being engaged by a part of the switch in its movement toward on position and so moved thereby as to engage the contacts of said arm and magnet and to also engage said arm with the core of said electromagnet.

4. A circuit control device for automobiles comprising a casing, a partition dividing the same into a coil chamber and a switch chamber, a coil in said coil chamber, contacts fixed in said partition and certain ones of which are connected to said coil, a switch member in the switch chamber and movable from an off to an on position and vice versa and carrying contact fingers for engagement with the fixed contacts in said partition, and a circuit breaker in one of said chambers and including a spring pressed arm and an electro-magnet each including cooperating contacts normally disposed in spaced relation, said arm being engaged by a part of the switch in its movement toward on position and so moved thereby as to engage the contact of said arm and magnet and to also engage said arm. with the core of said electromagnet, said switch when moved to its off position so engaging said arm as to move it against the attraction of said core and to then hold it in a position spacing its contact from that one associated with the electro-magnet.

5. A circuit control device for auotmobiles' comprising a casing, a partition dividing the same into a coil chamber and a switch chamber, a coil in said coil chamber, contacts fixed in said partition and certain ones of which are connected to said coil, a switch member in said switch chamber and movable from an off to an on position and vice versa and carrying contact fingers on one side thereof for engagement with said fixed contacts, a circuit breaker also disposed in the switch chamber and including a fixed contact and a movable contact and means on the other side of said switch member adapted when said switch member is in an off position, for engagement with a part of said circuit breaker to hold the contacts of said circuit breaker in spaced relation.

6. A circuit control device for automobiles comprising a casing, a partition dividing the same into a coil chamber, a coil in said chamber, a switch member in said switch chamber and movable from an off to an on position and vice versa and carrying contact fingers on one side thereof for engagement with said fixed contacts, a circuit breaker in said switch chamber and comprising a spring pressed arm and an electro-magnet each including cooperating contacts disposed in spaced relation and means on the other side of said switch member adapted when said switch member is in the off position for engagement with a part of said arm to hold the contacts of said circuit breaker in spaced relation.

7. A circuit control device for automobiles comprising a casing, a partition dividing the same into a coil chamber and a switch chamber at the respective ends of the casing, an ignition coil in the coil chamber, contacts fixed in said partition and some of which are connected to said coil, a switch member in the switch chamber, a lock barrel turnably mounted in that endof the casing associated with the switch chamber and operatively supporting the switch member whereby it may be turned from an off to an on position and Vice versa, contact fingers carried by one side of the switch member for engagement with said fixed contacts in the partition, a circuit breaker in said switch chamber and mounted on the associated end of the casing and including an arm and an electro-magnet between which said barrel extends, said arm and magnet including cooperating contacts andmeans on the other side of said switch which when said switch is in an off position so engages said arm as to hold the contact thereof spaced from the associated one on the electro-magnet.

8. In a circuit control device of the kind described, a casing having an end wall and a partition dividing the casing into a coil chamber and a switch chamber, an ignition coil in said coil chamber, contacts in said partition and some of which are connected to said coil, a lock barrel extending through in said end wall into said switch chamber, a switch member in the switch chamber turnable with said barrel and including contacts for engagement with contacts in said partition, an electro-magnet, a support therefor fixed to said end wall and including a fixed contact, a spring pressed L-shaped arm also pivoted on said end wall of the casing and having a part carrying a contact for cooperation with the contact on the magnet support and having another part for cooperation with the core of said magnet, and means carried by the switch member and operating when the same is in off position to engage a part of said L-shaped arm so as to hold said contacts in spaced relation, said means operating when said switch is turned to an on position to engage that part of said arm cooperating with the magnet core for moving said arm part into engagement with said core.

WILLIAM J. WILLIAMS. 

